JOSHUA POLSON/jpolson@greeleytribune.com
University of Northern Colorado's Seth Lobato throws a pass over Mesa State defense during the September game at Nottingham Field. The Bears recorded their first win under second-year coach Ernest Collins Jr. after a winless 2011 season.

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Seth Lobato and Jace Davis were all settled in among new surroundings Sunday afternoon to begin the next chapter in their lives.

Lobato was at the Indianapolis Colts headquarters while Davis was in a similar scenario with the Baltimore Ravens.

Both signed free agent contracts on Saturday, several hours after the National Football League draft concluded.

“Yeah, I was a little anxious,” said Lobato, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback who was a three-year starter for the University of Northern Colorado. “I still am. We have meetings tonight, and I want to get a playbook to start studying it.”

Davis, a 6 foot, 205-pound wideout, could not be reached for comment, but Lobato said he had talked to Davis and wished him good luck.

Thursday and Friday went pretty much as expected for both, not expecting to be drafted in the early rounds.

However, Saturday was a different story as the draft concluded and teams then began eliminating players from their draft boards according to ability and need.

Lobato, a former standout athlete at Eaton who came to UNC via transfer from the University of Colorado, was given additional workouts by the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts after performing in front of scouts at a pro day at Colorado State University last month.

He explained that there was a steady stream of contact with teams in the late rounds on Saturday, but he let his agent handle all the details.

“My phone started ringing a lot in the sixth and seventh rounds,” Lobato said. “It was exciting.”

Another UNC player expected to sign as a free agent — linebacker Clarence Bumpas — had not been signed as of Sunday night.

A standout football and basketball player at Eaton, Lobato eventually envisioned having a career in football and opted to attend CU as an invited walk-on.

He transferred to UNC after his freshman season and eventually won the starting position.

Lobato owns the UNC Division I records for touchdowns with 53, passing yards (8,090) and total offense (8,098).

He’s second in passing yards and total offense to Corte McGuffey, who competed for the Bears at the Division II level, guiding them to a national title and earning the Harlon Hill Award, given to the best Division II player in the nation.

“I liked playing all sports, but football is the one I just kept coming back to,” Lobato said. “Now, here I am.”

Lobato and Davis will take part in minicamps this week with the chance of being invited to training camp this summer.

UNC head coach Earnest Collins Jr., sang the praises of Lobato, Davis and several other senior players this season, repeatedly saying, “somebody’s going to give him (Lobato) a chance. He’ll be in somebody’s camp.”

Collins texted Lobato and Davis on Sunday, congratulating both and reminding them to keep working hard.

“I really think it’s about them being able to grasp a pro-style offense, which they had here,” Collins said in a UNC press release. “Now, it’s just about doing the little things.

“Jace will have to prove he can be effective on special teams and work his way on the team,” Collins added. “Seth will have to show he can control the offense. I have no doubts about either of them as they move on.”

This season, Davis caught 44 passes for 673 yards and five touchdowns in eight games. In the 2010 season, he had 53 receptions for 992 yards and seven touchdowns.

The last UNC player to sign as a free agent, make the team and have a productive NFL career was punter Dirk Johnson, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, including competing in a Super Bowl.